purpose

Conversations with Calliope- Waiting for Spring

jlangen — Mar 21, 2009, 10:13am

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Waiting for Spring.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it?
JOE: I feel as if my mind has been fallow lately, like a a field not yet plowed and planted for the new season.
CALLIOPE: How did you reach that conclusion?
JOE: It just occurred to me this morning while I was writing my journal.
CALLIOPE: What did you realize about yourself and your writing?
JOE: I don't feel creative ideas tugging at me anxious to be written.
CALLIOPE: What about the computer virus problem you wrote about yesterday?
JOE: I think it was just an excuse for not doing anything. I could have turned off my computer and written on paper.
CALLIOPE: No doubt. What do you think is paralyzing you?
JOE: I hadn't thought of it as paralysis but now that you mention it, I suppose that is what I am feeling. I think it might be a philosophical problem. My chosen goal is to help others understand themselves and take responsibility for their interactions with others. Lately it seems many people are giving up any concern about each other and just grabbing what they can with no concern for their own integrity or effect on anyone else.
CALLIOPE: Sounds depressing. Do you plan to just give up?
JOE: I'm not that desperate. But I do need to get refocused. I just need to figure out how. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- Authentic Marketing

jlangen — Jan 13, 2009, 8:29am

(Marketplace- Marigot, St. Martin)
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Did you finish Seth Godin's book, All Marketers Are Liars?
JOE: I finished it this morning.
CALLIOPE: So what did you think?
JOE: It was a wake up call and challenged what I thought I knew about marketing.
CALLIOPE: How so?
JOE: I want to convey to my readers encouragement to live authentic lives by using their talents for good purposes.
CALLIOPE: So what's the problem?
JOE: I have been concerned that there are many people who don't care about living their lives this way but just want to grab what they can.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: Godin encourages marketers and by extension writers to address people with a worldview consistent with their message rather than trying to change people with entrenched worldviews not open to their message.
CALLIOPE: How does this change your approach?
JOE: My goal will now be to speak effectively to those who are willing to listen rather than beating my head against a wall trying to interest those who think I'm crazy.
CALLIOPE: Sounds good to me.
JOE: Me too. I will get working on it today. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

jlangen — Jul 31, 2008, 9:01am

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you feeling today?
JOE: Much better than yesterday.
CALLIOPE: How so?
JOE: I think I was suffering from writing withdrawal for a while. Yesterday I wrote a column and worked on revisions for Marital Property. By the end of the day I felt like a writer again.
CALLIOPE: Maybe you're right. Writing seems to have gotten into your bones.
JOE: I seem lost without it. I think writing has become part of my identity.
CALLIOPE: What are you working on today?
JOE: I posted my column this morning and started work on Marital Property. I also visited a few writer sites and found I had neglected to post two stories, Child Bride and Or Not To Be on Writer's Cafe. I would like to get them up today as well.
CALLIOPE: You seem to have plenty of irons in the fire.
JOE: Astute observation. It's what keeps me feeling alive. Sometimes I wish I could just relax and not feel pressure to accomplish anything.
CALLIOPE: Why don't you try it?
JOE: Every time I do, I get restless after a day or two as I did this week. I guess I just need to keep busy. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Sunset- Key West)